The father of the 26-year-old nurse who died at the country home of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, Mary Habila, has told an Ebonyi State court to withdraw the police investigation into her death. They have also refused to allow an autopsy on her body.
Her father, Tanko Habila, made the request in a July 13 affidavit filed before the High Court of Justice in Ebonyi State. He said the family did not suspect foul play in her death.
“While I welcome steps being taken to unravel the cause of my daughter’s death, my family and I will not accept any autopsy,” the affidavit stated.
Habila worked at the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences before she was seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja, where she served as a personal nurse to Umahi and his immediate staff for about three years.
She died on June 27, 2026, in Uburu, in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, after travelling with Umahi to his hometown.
The minister had demanded that an autopsy be carried out to determine the cause of her death, but the family said they would not consent to the procedure.
The family also asked medical and investigative authorities not to her body just as her father said he did not want the investigation to continue and asked that his daughter’s remains be given to him so the family can bury her.
“I also wish not to proceed further with the investigation and further request to have my daughter’s body released to me for burial,” the affidavit stated, adding that family would not honour any further police or court invitation on the matter, insisting they did not suspect foul play.
Habila said he took the decision voluntarily and without pressure or inducement from anyone, and asked that her body be released without further delay.
“While reiterating our request for the Nigerian Police to release my daughter’s corpse for burial, I wish to state that I was never induced, coerced or influenced in any way with anything or by anybody to make these depositions, as everything deposed here reflects the sincere wishes of my family and I,” he said.
